Connections

Molex side 1

With the Molex connector MAIN the Flight Ctrl V3.0 is supplied with voltage (Lipo voltage). Also the BL-Ctrl and the buzzer are provided with this port.

Connect the 5-pol molex cable:

At the FlightCtrl => MAIN

At the BL-Ctrl => FlightCtrl.

Solder the buzzer to the pads Speaker at the BL-Ctrl board:

Connection CAM

The connection "CAM" is a switching output. Here you can connect a shuttercable to trigger e.g. a camera. At this molex contact you have 5V (max. 100mA) and GND. 5V is still there, GND is switched.

The settings for this switching output can be done in the KopterTool under Output (Output1).

You can find this switching output also on the pads C and 5V beside the connection "CAM".These pads are connected parallel to the connection "CAM".

Connection SERVO

At the connection Servo you can connect the external servo PCB TinyPCB (Shoplink).Via the plug connector on the TinyPCB you have 2 servo outputs where you can connect 2 Servos (of the camera mount). The plug connector includes 5V (max. 1A) of the FlightCtrl V3.0 (to power up the 2 Servos).

At the connection Servo you can also connect the optional board ServoPCB (Shoplink). Here you have up to 6 servo outputs. The ServoPCB includes 2 Recoms to power up the servos (max. 5V / 2A). For this you have to connect the board with the Lipo power of the BL-Ctrl board.The dimensions of ServoPCB can be found here: Maße

Connection IO2

At the connection IO2, the optional Hot-shoe adapter (Link) can be connected.Across the Hot-shoe adapter the triggering of the camera will be detected.In an extra .txt file (on the SD card in the FlightCtrl V3.0) the exact triggering and the GPS position will recorded.

Info: If the Hot-shoe adapter is not in use, the triggering of CAM is recorded in the LOG file.

Info: The Hot-shoe adapter will NOT trigger the camera !!! To trigger the camera you need a Shuttercable.

The connection I2C is for external boards like our new CamCtrl.With this board you can control Sony foto- and video cameras. Here you can e.g. trigger, REC on/off or zoom the camera.And you can see the telemetry (e.g. REC on/off, number of pictures etc.) of the CamCtrl in your Graupner HoTT transmitter or via the KopterTool.

INFO:

The inputs Analog, Ext2 und UART2 are for future use

Molex side 3

CAN
- CANH
- GND
- CANL

CAN
- CANH
- GND
- CANL

UART (Update)
- +5V
- TXD_Main
- RXD_Main
- GND

SD CARD
- micro SD card (max. 2GB / FAT16)

Connection CAN

The connection CAN is needed if you will connect 2 FlightCtrl V3.0 for a redundant use.

INFO: Here we need only one of the two connections. The second parallel one is optional to use.

Connection UART (Update)

At the connection UART (Update) you can use MK-USB (Shoplink). You need the MK-USB e.g. to update the software, change the settings or to send waypoint lists to the copter.

INFO: The supply of the FlightCtrl must always be done by an external power source (LiPo). The jumper on the MK-USB V3 has no function.

SD CARD

In the FlightCtrl V3.0 you can use a microSD card. This micro SD card can have max. 2GB and must be formatted with FAT16.

Here we store all flights incl. the telemetry data. With the KopterTool you can download then the LOG files.

To open the LOG files and take a look on it you can use the GPXViewer.

Molex side 4

BL
- TX_BL
- GND
- RX_BL

BL
- TX_BL
- GND
- RX_BL

GPS
- GND
- RXD_GPS
- +5V
- TXD_GPS
- GPS_Ctrl

Compass
- +5V
- SDA
- SCL
- GND

EXT1
- +5V
- GND

Connection BL

If you use a second FlightCtrl V3.0 to have it redundant, you can connect the UART socket of the BL-Ctrl V3 board with the BL socket of the Slave FlightCtrl.

When you use e.g. a single Okto BL-Ctrl V3 board, you connect only one of the BL sockets of the Slave FlightCtrl with the UART of the BL board.When you use e.g. a Double Quadro V3 board, you need both BL connections of the Slave FlightCtrl to connect the UART of the upper and the lower BL board.

Connection GPS

Via the connection GPS the 5-pin Molex cable is connected to the MK-GPS.

The connection "EXT1" is a switching output. Here you can connect e.g. a shuttercable to trigger e.g. a camera or a ExtensionPCB to switch LEDs or something else. At this molex contact you have 5V (max. 100mA) and GND. 5V is still there, GND is switched.

You can find this switching output also on the pads L and 5V beside the connection "EXT1".These pads are connected parallel to the connection "EXT1".

The settings for this switching output can be done in the KopterTool under Output (Output2).

Important:Do NOT connect LEDs directly! You can destroy this output!If you will switch LEDs please use e.g. the ExtensionPCB.

Pads bottom

The solder pads at the bottom of the FlightCtrl V3.0 are normally not in use. Only if you have to connect a special receiver or if there is no other way to connect it via the molex connection you can use it.

Pads serial

In addition to the connector UART (Update) you have this serial input/output also on this 10 pads. When you will use it you have to solder a 10-pin header.

If needed you can connect here then a Wi.232, a Bluetoot or the old MK-USB.

INFO:Both terminals are connected parallel. It can be used only one connection at the same time.

LEDs - status message

Via the LEDs on the FlightCtrl V3.0 different status messages can be detected.

LED Status

NC

FC

status message

No power supply

Supply voltage is present, everything OK

no or wrong receiver is connected or transmitter is switched off

Wrong mixer is set or Compass is not calibrated or magnet error or ...
=> Error message is displayed on the telemetry

Software deleted on the NaviCtrl (e.g. after improper update)
How to fix it: see Software Update

Software deleted on the FlightCtrl (e.g. after improper update)
How to fix it: see Software Update

LED Status

CAM or EXT1 or EXT2

status message

Switching output inactive

Switching output active

Receiver connections

Please make sure that the correct receiver is set under "Channels".

Graupner HoTT

Wiring of the receiver

Pad

Function

cable color

Telem.

Telemetry connection

gray

Or

data line

orange

R

Plus 5V

red

Br

GND/Minus

black or brown

Standard PPM receiver

Wiring of the receiver

Pad

Function

cable color

Telem.

-

-

Or

data line

orange

R

Plus 5V

red

Br

GND/Minus

black or brown

Jeti receiver

Wiring of the receiver

Pad

Function

cable color

Telem.

Telemetry connection

gray

Or

data line

orange

R

Plus 5V

red

Br

GND/Minus

black or brown

Spektrum Satellite receiver

Wiring of the receiver

Pad

Function

cable color

GND

GND/Minus

black

R

data line

gray

3V

Plus 3V

orange

-

-

-

Futaba S.Bus receiver

Wiring of the receiver

Pad

Function

cable color

5V

Plus 5V

red

GND

GND/Minus

brown

R

data line

orange

-

-

-

You need a signal inverter to connect a S.Bus Empfänger with the Rx connection of the FlightCtrl V3.0.
Here you can find this signal inverter: Shoplink

Setting:
Set the receiver to "normal" mode (the LED at the receiver will flash short red when turning on), set not to "High-Speed" (receiver LED lights green/red or orange when turning on)
(see Futaba S.Bus Problem wenn >10 Kanäle verwendet - only in german)

Software Update

INFO: The FlightCtrl V3.0 is supplied with current software and is already tested and functional.

If there is a newer software version then the one on the FlightCtrl V3.0 you can update the FlightCtrl V3.0 quick and easy.

The FlightCtrl V3.0 consists of two parts (flight control system and navigation). Here we need then 2parts of software and the right KopterTool:

It is importand that all 3 parts have the same versionsnumber! The letter at the end can be arbitrary.

Download

The latest software for the FlightCtrl V3.0 can be downloaded here:

Step 1: unpack file

The downloaded file is a compressed file with the name Software_MikroKopter.zip. In this compressed file you'll find the necessary software and the matching KopterTool.

The easiest way is to unpack the software and the KopterTool to the desktop.To do this make a double klick on the .zip file with the left mouse button. Move then the needed files via "drag & drop" to your desktop.

Step 2: open KopterTool

Open the folder KopterTool_Vx.xxx(x.xxx = version number) and start the program MikroKopter-Tool.exe. If you open the program for the first time, you have to confirm the license conditions. Then you see the KopterTool window. A "click" on the button Firmware update & Terminal will open the terminal window.

Info:The copter must be connected with your computer and the fully charged battery is connected with your copter. The transmitter is ON.

Step 3: Software update

Important: During the update do NOT disconnect the connection between copter and computer. The battery on your copter must be fully charged.

In the terminal window you can start now the update:

Click on the button Update Software (serial)...

In the software window choose Flight-Ctrl_MEGA1284p_VX_XXx.hex

Click on the button Open => update starts

Now you see the installing of the new software in the terminal window in green letters. Wait until the update is done (white letters).

To start the second part of the update do again:

Click on the button Update Software (serial)...

In the software window choose Navi-Ctrl_STR9_VX_XXx.hex

lick on the button Open => update starts

Now you see the installing of the new software in the terminal window in green letters. Wait until the update is done (white letters).

After the update is done, click on the button to MK-Tool... to go back to the main window.There you can check the versions numbers.(with the button NaviCtrl and FlightCtrl you can change the display)

After an update you have to check the functions before you fly.

Update error

If something went wrong during the update, the software on the FlightCtrl V3.0 can be deleted. In that case you can mean that there is no connection and nothing works.

But do not panic. You can install the software quick and easy again.

This will help to install the software:

The copter is:

connected via MK-USB with your computer (do NOT use a wireless connection!)

the battery is fully charged and connected with your copter

The terminal window is open and the right COM port is set

If you start the update you can see maybe now a TIMEOUT

Now we do this:

Start the update again

If there is no OK after 3-4 dots (behind "(try to reset Hardware....)" ->

open the battery connection and directly

close the battery connection

Now you should have an OK behind the dots and the update should go further

Info:If the update will not run, check the COM port and the connections.

If there is no way to update the FlightCtrl V3.0 again, please contact the MikroKopter support: support@hisystems.de

Settings

To use the copter with your transmitter you have to set the channels in your transmitter and in the settings for the FlightCtrl V3.0. You can now set this channels manually and individually. Or you use the ready setup file MK-Setting_(Vx.xx).mkp that you also find in the .zip file. (see: Software Update - ''Software_!MikroKopter.zip'')

In the downloaded software package you will find the required setting file MK-Setting_(Vx.xx).mkp.

Open the .zip file again and move the needed files via "drag & drop" to your desktop. .

Step 2: import the settings

Now you can import the unzipped file MK-Setting_(Vx.xx).mkp in your copter. Do now as described:

Open the KopterTool

Click the button Settings... => the settings open

Below click the button Load...

Select the file MK-Setting_(Vx.xx).mkp

Confirm with the button Open

In the settings window you can now see the channel settings

Write this settings now in your copter with a click on the button Write

INFO: The copter has 5 Parametersets (Settings). This you can set individually.It is advisable to save these settings on all 5 Parametersets. If you now change inadvertently the setting (via your transmitter) you have still the same functions.To do this change only the number of the Parameterset and save each single number with a click on the button Write.

At the end click the button OK to leave this menu.

Others

The bootloader of the FC3.0 is not public and can not be read

Never use a ISP programmer to upgrade the FlightCtrl. This can clear the Bootloader.

If you have damage your FlightCtrl V3.0 please contact the Support of HiSystems: support@hisystems.de